Women To Watch: Tiffany Clifford
AUGUSTA, Ga (WJFB) – Helping differently abled people thrive is at the heart of the work at Walton Options for Independent Living.
Tiffany Clifford explains, “this is a disability led organization. The majority of staff have disability so we have that lived practical experience where we can speak and understand.”
Helping them strive has been part of Tiffany Clifford’s soul for most of her life.
“When I was growing up, I had an aunt who had Down’s syndrome, and what always impressed me was that she was living a very independent life. Through the supports that were provided to her, she was able to make her own choices, be an individual, have her own apartment, and have that independence. And so I saw the value that just because you have a disability or you’re not the typical norm doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have the opportunity for inclusion and equity and exposure and access to all the same things as anybody,” she says.
That desire to help others achieve the same independence led her to Walton Options.
From the clients to the staff, Tiffany Clifford says her goal is to help others reach their potential and beyond.
“One of the things that’s helped us grow is I kind of always came from a field of dreams approach. If I had someone that’s interested in something that was their passion I said, ‘you build it and I’ll find a way to financially support it.'”
Tiffany Clifford has been at Walton Options for nearly 25 years and has risen to the position of Executive Director.
She has been a part of not only the growth of the organization, which now has four centers in two states, but also the incorporation of tools to help clients reach beyond their perceived limits.
“One hundred percent of people are people. That means that we deserve as people with disabilities the same opportunities and rights as all other people.”
While Tiffany Clifford’s soul is dedicated to helping differently abled people her passion has been the seeds that continue to flourish through the organization and others.
“You got to have good seeds. You got to have good water, good, good soil and you know, and that and good farmers. Right. So, yeah, that that’s my team. It’s my board, you know, and the support that I have to do that, they give me a lot of liberty to, to kind of create those things.”
The Women to Watch award is presented by Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA.
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